- Command Types
- Midas commands typically come in one of three types:
- Intrinsics
- Simple run-to-completion commands.
- Primitives
- More complex commands intended for processing a data file, providing a graphical
display or handling a network connection.
- Primitives written for X-Midas are often called "host" primitives.
- Primitives written for NeXtMidas that handle graphics are often called "graphical"
primitives.
- Macros
- This is the "glue code" used to combine the functionality of a number of intrinsics
and primitives into a single application.
- Macros are written in a simple Macro language that matches the syntax used in the
shell.
- Macros define the pipes (and pipe sizes) used to pass data between various
primitives.
- Many Midas frameworks indicate a command's type using a one-letter abbreviation
(e.g. M=Macro, I=Intrinsic, etc.) this letter is called the command
support.